Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 March 1939 — Page 9

agapon From Indiana=Ernie Pyle

That Monument +o the Boll Weevil Isn't a Weevil, but a Lady and a Wisecrack Started the Whole Thing.

ENTERPRISE, Ala, March 18.—This is

the town that has become semifamous because it put up a monument to the boll weevil—the insect that destroys cotton. That's like putting.up a monument to a hurricane, you’d think. But the story behind it is that when the weevil wiped out the only crop these parts ever knew, they woke up and turned to other things, and were better off than they were under cotton-raising. There is some

truth in the story, and a lot of fic-|

tion. Here is the story: In 1919, new street lights were

installed here. . While things were|

torn up, the town put up a circular pool and fountain, with the statue of a woman something like “Liberty” in the center. It’s in the middle of the main street.

So many passersby stopped and |

asked the workmen what they were doing that finally one of them, just wisecracking, said, “We're putting up a monument to a boll weevil.” A traveling salesman overheard it. He went on to Montgomery, called at a newsPaper office, and told them Enterprise was putting up a statue to the boll weevil. The paper came out with a big story next day. Then the town had to live up to the story. So they put a bronze plaque on the statue base which reads: “In Profound Appreciation of the Boll Weevil and What It Has Done as the Herald of Prosperity, This . Monument Is Erected by the Citizens of Enterprise Dec. 11, 1919.” So much for the monument story. The real story I came for how the citizens turned to varied farming and got rich—would make a good story for this year’s Liars Club contest, After cotton, the farmers did turn to peanuts.

Mr. Pyle

And true, Coffee County’s annual peanut crop soon |

became - worth $5,000,000, in contrast to cotton’s - $1,000,000. : But that didn’t keep up. Peanut prices went down. re depression came. Farm tenancy kept increasg. | So the story I came to Enterprise for doesn’t exist. But I found another story. This story is what Government discovered here in 1935, and what they're trying to do about it.

Design for Better Living

When the Government took a hand here in. 1935, things stood as follows: Six out of 10 schoolchildren in the county had hookworm. Every other baby died at birth. One mother in every 10 died in childbirth. The average mentality was third-grade. One out of 10 adults couldn't read nor write. Three-fourths of the farmers were tenant farmers. Most of them had never been out of debt in their lives. They averaged only one mule to three families. And this is in Coffee County, which stands third among all the counties of Alabama in the value of agricultural products. Coffee County has become a sort of experimental station in Alabama. Federal, state and county agencies all have a hand here. To prevent overlapping, they are co-ordinated under a council, with the county school superintendent as chairman. They say it’s the only thing of its kind in America. These agencies cover most everything from typhoid shots to fruit-canning. They're like the agencies in your home territory, only the need is greater and I suspect they are a bit more enthusiastic. The work - is climaxed in the Farm Security Administration, which actually owns thousands of acres of land and plants these down-and-out farmers on its acres. The

600 farmers on FSA are scattered over a county 25 |

miles square. What they're doing is simply a general, and wide-stretching process—starting almost from zero—of trying to get people to living better.

TL To

My Day

By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

Visits San Antonio and Lauds the Spirit of Its Needlework Industry.

AN ANTONIO, Texas, Friday—We boarded the train in Harlingen last night and arrived in San Antonio at 8 o'clock this morning. The last time I saw this city was during a trip with the President, when he visited the Alamo and drove through some of the streets. It was easier to see the city today, when Mr. and Mrs. Maury Maverick and Mrs. Harry Drought brought us to see certain ‘industries and places of historical interest. The needlework industry here is in some ways comparable to the needlework industry in Puerto Rico. I wanted to see some of the work and conditions under’ which it was pro-

duced.

Workers Union took me to a shop where the owner is in full accord with the Wages and Hours Law and feels that over a period of time they will be able to adjust by making more machine-made garments and new designs. The difficulty, of course, is in the homework situation and in the completely hand-made garments, I visited one shop where they make infants’ wear almost entirely by hand and they are, of course, finding the adjustment more difficult. The root of the whole problem is, I think, the fact that we as a country are not educated to the value of

The organizer for the International Ladies Garment |

By Dr. George Gallup Director, American Institute of Public Opinion NJEW YORK, March 18.—A stock-taking survey conducted by the American Institute of Public Opinion among church members and nonchurch members in all parts of the United States shows that while country and small town people think that religion has been losing its hold somewhat in their communities, a surprisingly large number of city dwellers believe that interest in religion has been increasing “during the last few years” in their communities. The - substantial number of those interviewed say that they do not go to church as often as their parents did, however. The survey, which is the first of its kind to be conducted, included men and women in all sections and all walks of life—from Negro peo"ple in the South to taxi drivers in New York and retired farmers in California. A scientifically selected cross-section of the American public was asked whether they thought interest in the churches had been rising or falling, what the churches could do to increase interest, whether or not people listen to radio sermons, and other ‘questions. The Institute found that 50 per cent—or exactly half of those interviewed—are not attending churches as often as their parents did. The Institute’s question and the answers are:

“Do you go to church more often or less often than your parents did?” Less Often ...................... 50% More Often .................... 18 About the Same . . 32

In the last fifteen years, however, the radio has brought a new scope to American churches, and the Institute’s survey found that 31 per cent of all those interviewed said they had listened to all or some part of a church broadcast on the preceding Sunday. Almost two-thirds of these persons. had not gone to ordinary church services, their answers showed. ” ” 2

RESIDENT ROOSEVELT stressed the relationship be-

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¢ 1ndil

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1939

anapolis

Religion Gains in Cities

But Gallup Poll Indicates Declining Interest in Rural Areas

Think About Their CHURCHES?

imes

Entered as Second-Class Matter Indianapolis,

Our Town

at Postoffice,

tween religion and democracy in his opening message to Congress this year, and the Institute survey has attempted to find out how well the general public thinks the churches have been playing their part.

“Do you think interest in religion in this community has increased or decreased during the last few years?” the Institute asked. :

The vote for the country as a whole divides evenly, but a closer look shows an important difference between rural and urban Americans, The largest number of city dwellers report that interest in churches is increasing in their com-

munities. The largest number of farmers and small-town people, living in traditional strongholds of American religion, see a decline.

The percentages for the three groups are: Interest About Increasing Decreasing Same Farmers 27% 40% 33% Small Towns .... 29 46 25 City Dwellers.... 42 32 26

Some reascns for an increasing interest im the church and in religion, the comments of typical voters show, are

Highlights

Do you go to church more often or less often than your parents did? Less Often

‘More Often .. About the Same

canes ssvivevesnnis she 50

e000 32

Did you listen to any. church services over the radio last Sunday?

YES NO

# # » Would you like church better if there were no sermon?

YES NO

7% 93

in Today's Church - Going Survey

Do you think interest in religion in this community has increased or decreased during the last few years?

CITY RESIDENTS—

Increased Decreased

About the Same .............. 26 FARMERS—

Increased Decreased About the

SMALL TOWNS—

Increased Decreased

About the Same .............. 25

cnvssisidnnsenseys 4290

cesansccenrisveresii 200 tevsnienses: 10 Same ............. 33

cece vsessssnesesenns 29%

(1) the influence of the depression, (2) growing apprehension of another world war and (3) disturbing news from other parts of the world in general.

2 2 ” HURCHMEN and laymen will learn much about the

problems of American churches when the U. S. Government’s regular Census of Religious Bodies, due in

1937 but postponed because of lack of appropriations, is made public shortly. The census will not attempt to answer such questions as “What could churches do to increase the interest of the public?” however. The Institute has put such a question to the voters in today’s survey, and the result is a list of hundreds of spontaneous suggestions. A majority of those interviewed either thought there was nothing the churches can do to increase interest or were unable to make any specific suggestions, but here are

Seizure of Czechoslovakia

the most frequent recommendations, listed in the order of mention:

1—“Select ministers who are more intelligent.” 2—“Arrange more . social activities around churches.” 3—“Become more ‘modern’ and ‘liberal’.” 4—“Eliminate hypocrisy.” 5—“Stop emphasizing money and contributions.” 6—*Let church people be more friendly.” 9—“Increase the number of services.” 8—“Apply sermons to every-day matters.” 9—“Make special activities for young people.” 10—“Emphasize the Bible.”

the

12—“Make services shorter.” 13—“Manage to have more unity among churches. 14—“Provide transportation for those who need it.”

or “doing some work around the house.” planations accounted for nearly half of all such remarks. Other reasons, given less frequently, were: “had to work,” “did some reading,” “read the Sunday papers,” and “went

for a drive.”

Young people reported signs of increasing community

These two ex-

interest in religion more often than their elders. The opin-

ions of different age

levels are:

About

Increasing Decreasing Same

Under 30...

50 and Over

sence 31% csess 38

34% 36 40

(Copyright, 1939)

29% 26 28

Marine Fossils on Desert

By Science Service

prierd

Second Section

PAGE 9

Ind.

By Anton Scherrer

Indianapolis Was the 'Apple Pie" Town to Eugene Ysaye, the Great Belgian Violinist. and Here's Why.

UGENE YSAYE, the great Belgian vioe linist, always called Indianapolis “the apple pie town.” I can explain. Seems that a snow blockade in the winter of 1897 compelled Ysaye to stop off in Indian«

apolis to make a train connection. There

was a four-hour delay. More than enough to’ make him furiously hungry. Hundreds of others caught in the same blockade, but knowing their way around the Union Station better than Mr. | Ysaye did, had appeased their hun-: | ger by cleaning out practically everything in the Depot’s kitchen. With the result that when Ysaye found the lunch counter and asked for several substantial dishes, he was told that the cupboard was bare with the exception of some apple pies. ite had never heard of the , much less tasted it. He repeated the strange name several Mr. Seherter times, rolled it over his Flemish tongue cautiously, and turned to his manager, R. E. Johnston, standing by his side. “What in heaven’s name is apple pie?” he asked in French. Mr. Johnston did his best t enlighten him using his hands to help out. :

It must have been a good definition, for when he got done, Ysaye said he'd tackle it. He called for a whole pie. He tasted it, smacked his lips, pronounced it good, and called for another helping and still another, until he had eaten seven (7) whole pies. The only reason he stopped was because there wasn’t any more to be had. Apparently Mr. Johnston went hungry all the time he was in Indianapolis. After the seventh pie, Ysaye again turned to Mr. Johnston and said: “This is the finest of all American dishes. Can these American cakes be had in other cities, too?” When informed that they could, he seemed much pleased and from that day on until he left America, he ate on an average of two (2) apple pies .each day. What's more, his eyes always lit. up| at the mention of Indianapolis,

Things Are Different Now |

Well, that was back in 1897. I press the point bel]

cause I doubt very much whether Mr. Johnston’s ready and reassuring answer of 42 years ago would hold good ° today. Certainly nobody can” make me believe that apple pie is the foolproof dish it once was. Which brings me to the point of today’s piece, namely that nothing has deteriorated quite as much as the making of apple pie. Unless, perchance, it is the making of cherry pie. To be sure, things aren't as bad in Indianapolis as some other places I could mention. In New York, for instance, it’s next to impossible to track down an apple pie that would pass muster in Indianapolis. I don’t know what they do to them, but whatever it is, apple pies in New York taste more like Viennese torten or Parisian chaussons or Danish pastry than the real thing. And just to show that I remember something about the real thing, allow me to say that 42 years ago when Ysaye had the luck to be snowbound in the Union Station, Indianapolis produced an authentic apple pie with no frills, one that was something more than a fancy cake dough filled with symmetrical apple slices glazed in sirup. Why, the old-fashioned apple pie was so good that even ice cream a la mode couldn’t improve it. 2 v :

Jane Jordan—

She Has Done All the Courting, and ‘Scared’ Man Away, Girl Is Told.

DEAR JANE JORDAN—He "is a gran fellow, 26. I have known him five months and have invited Then we usu lly go to a s and they if he liked

him to dinner five times. show. He likes my mother and brothe like him. He treats me nice but not as

me more than a friend. | Maybe I've done too much for him, but I love to do things for people. For Christmas I gave ‘him several gifts and he gave me one. For his birthdaz 1 gave him a watch. What has me worried is that he didn’t seem to be thrilled with them. For Valentine's Day I gave him another gift and my picture and he did seem thrilled. I got very hurt some time ago and asked for the watch and my picture bagk. He sent them back with a letter. When I read his letter it did something to me and I went to see him and gave them back. He was awfully nervous and since then has been different. Do you think it is my age that makes him act this way? I have tried to go with other fellows but just can’t. I can’t go on this way. NINETEEN.

2 ”n 2% ” ' Answer—1It is not your age but your attitude which has floored the young man. You've done all the

courting. You've played the masculine role and turned him into a woman, and he doesn’t like the art. No wonder he doesn’t respond with anything warmer than kindness. No matter how generous your impulse, it was bad taste for you to give him such expensive press ents. He wasn’t thrilled because he was painfully embarrassed. To refuse them would hurt you; to ace cept them made him feel like a gigolo. It was the very acme of bad taste for you to ask for anything back other than your picture when he didn’t ask you for dates. It put you in the position of having sought to buy his attentions and of withdrawing the fee when you didn’t get your moneys worth. I should think any man would be nervous and fearful of a scene under these circumstances. I think he is a very decent young chap to have tried to save your feelings instead of roughly pushing you aside. I doubt if you ever can attract this young man in the way that you want, for you have taken over too many of the masculine prerogatives yourself and made him feel silly, which is a fatal mistake. Let it be a lesson to you in the future, A woman has to arouse a man’s interest by indirection. A comeehither look, an encouraging smile, a friendly attitude, and an occasional invitation is all that is permitted to her in our society. To overstep these bounds is to lose out, as you have amply demonstrated for yours self. JANE JORDAN.

ur problems in a letter to Jane Jordan who will nd et Xs in this column daily.

New Books Today

NEGLECTED part of Tennessee, the hill and A bottomland country in the western section bee tween the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, has been described as that state’s “last frontier.” Many of those who live there, descendants of the first settlers, have Indian blood in their veins. They find an existence in sharecropping, making moonshine liquor or in government relief work. ‘Jack Boone was born in the section. When hs ventured into the field of the novel he chose to write about the hill people he knew best. Thus, DOSSIE BELL IS DEAD (Frederick A. Stokes Co.) is a simple recital of the lives of a few Western Tennesseeans, Dossie Bell is the woman who loves Luster Holder, one of the community’s most respected and feared members. She loves him to the extent that she refuses to leave him, although her church bans her for not marrying Luster. oh Her death brings to a climax the tragedies that \. ° have been brewing among the community. There is little subtlety about the novel's characters, They are plain, outspoken, indifferent. Their stories, too, are told in a plain, outspoken manner. At times, however, the author seems influenced by the Faulkner and vay styles and strains somewhat

3 i

handwork. Those of us who have an appreciation of it, have been brought up in the tradition that it must come from France. Just as beautiful handwork is being done by our own workers, both here and in Puerto Rico, but it cannot be done at the same price of machine work.

Housing Program Planned

Of course, when home-work is done, it is far safer in an organized industry and, unlike Puerto Rico, here the industry is organized. Where the union supervises conditions in the homes as well as the manufacturer, it is safe from the point of view of health. . Sad as it may seem, San Antonio has the highest tuberculosis rate in the country and it is not far behind in social disease. There is a housing program of somé size which will make a great difference in the living conditions of the Latin-American citizens when it is actually finished, but it has not as yet begun. I am told that there is some opposition, but after driving through the district. and going into some of the houses, I can only feel that out of purely selfish interest all opposition will disappear, for a district which breeds disease and shelters crime is harmful to the whole community. The moving spirit in this housing project is Father Tranchese, who shows his deep interest in the real social questions of his people by his determination to see a change in the surroundings in which they live.

Day-by-Day Science

By Science Service

OME, March 18.—Fossils of marine and land animals have been found in enormous quantities in the desert interior of Libya, Dr. Guido Tavani, geologist at the University of Pisa, reports. The finds include great numbers of fish teeth, bones and armor of crocodiles and turtles, and fossils of deer, horse, wild boar, etc. Biggest single find is the skull of a four-tusked mastodon, with lower tusks 10 feet long. The region appears to have been the swampy delta of a great river of miocene time, 30 or 40 million years ago. The aquatic animals swam in the shallow waters, and the carcasses of drowned land animals were washed down by the stream. :

15—“Improve church music.” = ” t

OME clergymen have experimented with church serve ices without sermons, but the great majority in the Institute survey (93% of those with opinions) say that removing the sermon from its place in Sunday morning worship would not please them. “It wouldn’t be church without a sermon,” or “the strmon is the main part of the service,” are their typical reasons. The survey found that the greatest number of persons interviewed who did not go to church on a typical Sunday spent the morning hours either “catching up on my sleep”

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1—Name the Secretary of State in the Harding Cabinet. 2—What event does the ballad “Marching Through Georgia” commemorate? 3—Where is the Juba River? 4—What is the correct pronunciation of the word maintenance? 5—What mountain range did the Spanish refugees cross to enter France? - 6—Name the state flower of Pennsylvania. Tis new chemical, nylon, which can be fashioned 7 Under whith branch > ine into silk-like fibers that make beautiful and %, ; : foau of Fisheries? ws amazingly tough stockings, is the first truly synthetic || ; i : : A ; fiber which man has ever created. 5 : or 2s L ; 8 # =» But, you will ask, aren’t rayon and this new wool- Answers like fiber made out of cow’s milk also synthetic | 1—Charles Evans Hughes fibers? . : . Chemists will answer, however, that of all the | 2=-Sherman, s Maron wo the sea, present-day fibers created by man and which do not 3 Fa. ae Civ ar. occur naturally in nature, nylon is the only one which 4—M oi te La. . is strictly synthesized by science. cas -le-nance; Rayon has as its basic material the cellulose of 5—Pyr r3hee: trees or of cotton. What the chemist does is to re- Mees: latieel constitute the cellulose into a fiber material. The 7—De a eros chemist is making a chemical fiber when he makes D e > Jom . rayon. i 4 ' Smiley the new janial “oop a aly, made out | ASK THE TIMES 0. e casein oO s really a chemical arrange- i ment. of the protein occurring in the casein. ree 8 3 oo Samp toe Glass, metal and asbestos fibers can be called | question of fact or information physical fibers because they contain some original to The Indianapolis Times mineral material whose shape and, in some cases even Ww on a Sapo Bi appearance, have. been altered by physical means. 1013 13th St., N Ww. Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannot be given nor can lended research be unders

No Surprise to Americans

TEW YORK, March 18.—It was no surprise to the American public when Chancellor Hitler took over Czechoslovakia this week. : A survey by the American Institute of Public Opinion (Gallup Poll) published in The Indianapolis Times following the Munich agreement showed that nine Americans in every ten disbelieved Hitler’s promise that he had “no more territorial demands in Europe.” A companion survey in England by the British Institute of Public Opinion showed nine out of ten Britishers also distrusted the promise. .

Side Glances Everyday Movies—By Wortman

not main-

m= \AorTmaw

LL COPR. 1939 BY NEA INC. 7. M. REC.

. "Oh, Martha!

Mopey Dick and the Duke Duke, that the guy that wins the swee stakes

.. In the creation of nylon chemistry has started out with coal, air and water and built up, by an intricate process, a material that can be spun into fibers finer |

Where did you put my pipe.cleaners?"